Arun-DOWN hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond is being torn down and replaced with a new £4million bar and restaurant.

The yet to be named project will also offer 13 holiday lodges on its grounds in Balmaha.

Developers estimate it will bring 30 new jobs to the area, which is popular with walkers on the West Highland Way and on Ben Lomond.

The McKever group, a fast-growing independent Scottish hotel chain, acquired the old Highland Way Hotel four years ago. The group's owner, Ally McKever, a former welder turned property developer, also owns the nearby historic Rowardennan Hotel.

"I just love Loch Lomond," said McKever.

"Four years ago we bought the hotel with an eye to the future. It was tired, worn out and the wrong shape, and we closed it a few months ago."

McKever said he's aiming to produce something more "aesthetically pleasing".

"I can promise the finish will be superb - our architects and designers are planning lots of wood, slate and glass, and it will be stunning," he added.

The McKever Group has £25m worth of deals in the pipeline, including acquisitions of hotels in Gretna and Dundee.

In the last year, the group acquired Rosslea Hall in Rhu and Glasgow's City Hotel, both of which have undergone refurbishments.

The group also bought a stake in the nine-strong Buddha Bar chain of Glasgow restaurants which went into administration in 2006.

McKever also owns and operates other hotels, including the Park View and Queen's Park in Glasgow which take in homeless people assigned temporary accommodation by local authorities.

The McKever Group currently employs some 600 staff.

Director of sales and marketing, Jeannette Mooney, said: "We are gearing up for significant growth this year.

"Our niche is mainstream highend three-star hotels. We look for the right properties at the right price in the right location and we have extremely high standards.

"Our strategy is to spot and develop under-performing hotels, but finding them can be hard. Our approach is rigorous - if we buy eight, it probably means we've looked at more than 100."